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I got a chance to interview Lindsay from That Working Girl on all her success. Not only is she a social media guru, she runs a very successful site. We got the opportunity to learn more about That Working Girl!

Tell us about yourself, what is your personal background?

Growing up, I always knew that I had a knack for writing and wanted to someday incorporate it into my career. Fast forward to college, where I pursued a fulfilling degree in journalism and worked my way up through the ranks of our campus newspaper to serve as our Editor-in-Chief during my senior year. Upon graduating, I experienced a change of heart and dabbled in PR and advertising before landing where I am now working full-time in social media! I can honestly say that my experience trying out different areas of media was great, and I wouldn’t change a thing. I’m currently helping manage social media for a national brand, and it’s so funny for me to look back to three years ago when I was managing an on-campus Instagram account with 100 followers, and now I product content for an audience of over 35,000!

What inspired you to start That Working Girl?

The idea to launch That Working Girl came to me during an amazing. whirlwind trip to New York City in the spring of 2012. I had the incredible opportunity to visit Cosmopolitan magazine with a small group of handpicked students, where I got to tour the office and have a meet and greet with several key editors. While I was there, former Editor-In-Chief Kate White noted that starting a blog about what you were most passionate about was a great way to product quality content and connect with others. As soon as I hopped on my flight home I began scribbling notes (I still have them!) to begin a launch plan for That Working Girl.

Over the last 4 years the site has certainly seen its fair share of changes, and has grown along with me and my career. I can’t lie – with the pace of my professional life picking up speed it’s sometimes very difficult to keep up with a blog, but connect with and helping others is always worth it to me.

What were your goals when you created the site?

My initial goal was to help other women find fulfillment in their careers – namely through internship and job opportunity postings. At the time, I was fresh into my 20s and was hungry for any great opportunity to learn more about the media industry. That Working Girl was initially very media-focused, and has since evolved into a career and lifestyle destination.

How has it evolved over the years?

That Working Girl has seen several rebrands, with each blossoming into something more amazing than before! As I’ve added contributors and blog sponsors into the mix, the amount and quality of my content has picked up. I’m currently planning out content that will showcase more of my personal life, as I’ve kept most of myself hidden away and behind the scenes of the site. Now, I’m ready to share more of my personal journey and experiences!

What are some obstacles that you have had to overcome?

The biggest obstacle that I’ve had to overcome – and am still overcoming! – is finding ample time between all of my other commitments to tend to That Working Girl and regularly update with fresh content. My contributors are a huge help to me. They are all so kind and smart, and their blog contributions never cease to amaze me. Other than that, figuring out whether or not I should keep my personal and blog social media accounts separate is a big hurdle. We’ll see where that goes!

What has been your greatest accomplish thus far?

My greatest accomplishment thus far has been That Working Girl’s ability to help women and meet them exactly where they are in their career. I can’t tell you how many coffee dates and emails I’ve exchanged with strangers who turned into friends thanks to the blog. I’m so humbled every day that people come to me for my opinion and expertise, and that is exactly what challenges me to push myself and learn more each day.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

I used to have a planned-out roadmap for my life, but I threw that out years ago! Honestly, in 10 years I would be over-the-moon if I was owning my own digital consulting business, with an emphasis on helping small brands grow into something mighty and amazing.

What is your philosophy of life?

I try each and every day to be helpful to others – what’s the point in working so hard if you can’t help others at the end of the day?

I got a chance to interview with designer Sara Melissa for some inside scoop into her world.

What made you decide to start your business?

SM: Ultimately I’ve always seen it as part of my dream. I wanted to create something that was authentic to who I am and what I stand for. Creating something that has substance and depth has always been something important for me. I come from Nicaragua, a third world country that is scarred by 100 years of war and, as a result, is one of the poorest in the world. That being said, there is a defining need for me to contribute something that helps others, starting my own business is a platform that gives me a chance to do that.

What is your business known for or what is unique about it?

SM: I wanted to bring forth something authentic, with lasting quality and depth, something that transcended fashion itself. To incorporate that into my brand I came up with Yin Yang shoes. Playing off of the Yin Yang philosophy itself. In a nutshell; that you need darkness to see light something that you can find in most of life’s situations, a positive to balance out the negative. I believe in this and find it powerful.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

SM: Finding inspiration is probably my favorite part because I get to travel and turn my experiences into concepts. I really enjoy brainstorming new ideas and incorporating them into my designs.

What has been your greatest accomplishment?

SM: This is my greatest accomplishment, having the opportunity to turn my dream into reality.

What would you say is the hardest part of growing this business is?

SM: The beginning is always hard in any business because it’s a one person circus for a long time. You wear many hats and sometimes do things that you might not feel comfortable doing. It’s ever changing and right now the hardest part of my job is getting people to know my work. It’s something that doesn’t happen overnight and takes a lot of energy.

What is one thing that you would like people to know about this brand that they might not otherwise know?

SM: We donate 5% of our sales to a non- profit feminist organization that helps empower the rural women of Nicaragua. La F.E.M. has been doing this for the past two decades by providing education, legal and moral support to the often forgotten women of the field. It helps them become economically independent from men who, because of lack of education think that they are better than women.

How would you describe your style?

SM: Classy, fashion forward, with some quirk. It’s meant to be fun, and fresh. Fresh, meaning it’s a new point of view, my point of view. I love mixing prints colors and textures, as most designers do; however I being a fashion lover myself, I haven’t found what I’m currently working on, not with my particular swag. 🙂